THEY are the heart and soul of the community, but Birmingham's pubs have undergone dramatic changes in recent decades.

As cafe culture has replaced the liquid lunch, many of the city's old-time boozers have made way for apartment buildings or retail parks.

But search the back streets and the remnants of Birmingham's old boozers can still be found.

Away from the trendy bars of Broad Street or Brindleyplace, the city still boasts hundreds of historic pubs, with each one offering a unique glimpse into the area's past.

Although dozens of old inns were lost during development in the 60s and 70s many still stand, and apart from the occasional fresh lick of paint they have remained the same for decades.

Historian Joseph McKenna has devoted the last few years of his life to investigating the area's pubs.

With a fondness for real ale and smoky old locals, the 58-year-old has frequented many a Birmingham boozer in the name of research.

The former city centre librarian began his work after taking early retirement.

And in his book, Central Birmingham Pubs, Volume Two, he has managed to piece together a unique account of local life.

"I have always been interested in local history but I didn't start looking into this properly until about ten years ago," he said.

"I took early retirement and it was a good opportunity to write the book.

"This is the second volume. In the first book I covered the Bullring and the pubs in the inner ring road, in this one I've looked at the other pubs. I've covered about 1,500 pubs in all.

"Lots of the old pubs have gone now and no-one has recorded them. When the market was built in the 70s they demolished half-a-dozen decent pubs."

Although Birmingham now boasts more bars than almost any other British city, Joseph, who worked in the local studies department at Birmingham Central Library for 35 years, said the modern equivalents lack the character of old locals.

"There's no identity to them," he said. "What you got in the old pubs were a lot of the same regulars year in, year out.

"You don't get that so much now, so there's not the same sense of community. You usually had a good atmosphere because the landlord or land-lady knew what the locals wanted.

"And because they were local pubs there was never any trouble because people didn't want to be barred.

"There are still some great old pubs in Birmingham, there's the Kerryman in Digbeth and Wellington in Bennetts Hill. I also like Horans Tavern in Dig-beth. I know two guys from Henley-in-Arden who regularly drive down there.

"It just goes to show, your local doesn't have to be the pub down the road, it's just where you are happiest."